Dispensing and measuring closure



March 26, 1957 Filed April 15. 1953 United St tS Pm DISPENSING AND MEASURING CLOSURE Herbert A. Barnby, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application April 13, 1953, Serial No. 348,287

Claims. (Cl. 141322) The present invention is a dispensing closure for bottles, jars and like containers.

Essentially the invention is a combined closure and dispenser which not only effectively seals the containers, but incorporates a chamber communicating with the interior of the container, by means of which small portions of the contents of the latter may be measured and removed from the container incident to removal of such closure.

Granular, or powdered, materials are readily measured and dispensed through the use of my invention.

An object of my invention is the provision of a dispensing closure having a chamber, the exterior wall of which snugly fits within the neck opening of a container in such fashion as to insure against the enclosure of any appreciable amount of material between the exterior surface of the chamber and the container wall. To this end, the chamber is substantially coextensive axially with the container neck and of such diameter throughout, that there is no appreciable space between these elements in which the granular material can become lodged, adhere to the exterior of the chamber and be spilled and wasted incident to removal of the closure.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a dispensing closure in which the inlet and discharge opening is so positioned in the chamber as to permit substantial filling of the latter with the granular material, and retention of same therein during removal of the closure from the container.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view illustrating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the container inverted to effect filling of the chamber;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the container positioned to cut oif flow of material to the chamber preparatory to removal of the closure;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the dispensing closure;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view of a further modification incorporating a screw cap; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the modification shown in Fig. 7.

In the preferred form of my invention it is shown applied to a glass container 10 having a reduced neck 11.

The dispensing closure, in this form, is a stopper 12 formed at least in part of polyethylene, or such relatively inert plastic material. The stopper includes a hollow cylindrical body 13, or chamber, having a transverse wall 14 at its slightly tapered inner end. This wall has an inlet and discharge opening 15 along one margin. The wall of this opening (as shown in Figs. 1 and 4) may be defined by portions of the inner end of the cylindrical body and said transverse wall 14. Such will insure dis- 2,786,494 Patented Mar,.26, 195.7.

pensing of all material from the chamber in that there will be no ledges, or obstructions to trap, or hold any of the material.

At the outer end, this body or chamber 13 is formed with an annular flange 16 which extends radially outward for sealing contact with the rim of the neck 11. Integral with this flange is an upstanding circular wall 17 having an inturned flange 18 at its upper end. This wall is serrated externally to provide a surface which may be effectively grasped preparatory to removal or application of the stopper. 7

A cover disk 19, preferably of transparent material, and formed with a marginal shouldered collar 20, closes the outer end of the stopper. The shouldered collar, as shown, is releasably held between and by the two flanges 16 and 18 on the short circular wall 17.

When the stopper described is assembled with the containers as in Fig. 1 and removal of a measured amount, or dose, of the contents is desired, the container is positioned substantially as in Fig. 2, or in any event in such position that the granular material can flow through the opening into the chamber in the body 13. Thereafter the container is reverted to such position that the stopper can be removed Without premature discharge of the material from said chamber. The cover disk 19, being transparent, permits visual inspection to assure proper positioning of the opening 15, prior to removal of the stopper.

As stated heretofore the snug fitting of the cylindrical body against substantially the entire surface of the neck minimizes the lodgment of the granular material between the body and neck.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modification wherein the cylindrical body 13 is somewhat longer than in the preferred form and the inlet and discharge opening 15* is formed in its entirety in the cylinder wall 20 and inwardly from the juncture of the neck and body of the container. Filling the chamber etc., involves the steps described above with regard to the preferred form.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a further modification is illustrated wherein the closure is a sheet-metal screw cap 21 including a top portion 22 and a threaded skirt 23 which engages screw threads 24 in the container neck 11*. The chamber is a cup-like element 25 spaced from the cap skirt and snugly engaging the interior surface of the neck and having a radial flange 26 at its outer end lying between the top of the cap and rim of the neck. Thus, this flange forms a seal and additionally serves to hold the cap and chamber assembled, by reason of its frictional engagement with the cap skirt. The inlet and discharge opening 27 may be in the bottom end, as shown. Here again manipulation is as pointed out in connection with the preferred form, except that the chamber is held fixed and the container unscrewed therefrom.

Modification may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combined measuring and dispensing closure for granular or like material comprising as a unitary structure attachable to and removable bodily only from a container, a hollow cylindrical body of resilient plastic material adapted to fit snugly in the neck of a container and requiring bodily removal from the latter for container opening and material dispensing purposes, means for completely closing one end of the cylindrical body and a transverse wall at the other .end of the body provided with a combined inlet and discharge opening establishing communication between the hollow body and interior of the container irrespective of the angular position of the opening.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, a portion of the transverse wall and a segment of the wall of the cylin- 3. drical body defining the Walls of the combined inlet and discharge opening.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, the means for closing said one end of the cylindrieal body-being,trans- 5. The combination defined'in claim 1, the inlet and discharge opening being formed in its entirety along a minor segment of the peripheraLportion of thetransverse wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ellis Feb. 12, Bradshaw Mar. 6, Renfro Feb. 27, Whitney May 14, Pieek Feb. 15, Godfrey June 14, Perelson July 14, Manly Feb. 23, Numbers July 3, Carvalho Apr. 29,

FOREIGNv PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 11,

France Mar. 29,

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